Folding device for tape dispensers



Oct. 17, 1950 I McNElL 2,526,494

FOLDING DEVICE FOR TAPE DISPENSERS Filed March 8, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I L U INVENTOR. I26. 2 fiance/v I N NEIL G. I. MONEIL FOLDING DEVICE FOR TAPE DISPENSERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1947 R.L N N 0 0 M &

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Oct. 17, 1950 McNElL FOLDING DEVICE FOR TAPE DISPENSERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 8, 1947 1 IN T a .1. M .M p I M 1. 6

Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE 2,526,494 FOLDING DEVICE FOR TAPE DISPENSERS Gordon I. McNeil, Detroit, Mich. Application March 8, 1947, Serial No. 733,275

11 Claims.

I This invention relates to a device for forming tabs on strips of adhesive tape, particularly pressure sensitive adhesive tapes.

At the present time pressure sensitive adhesive tapes are in use for wrapping and sealing packages, for index tabs, and the like. It has been found desirable to provide the strip of tape with a tab or pull portion formed by folding a portion of the tape, adjacent one end of the strip, upon itself so that this portion may be readily grasped to facilitate removal of the tape. In the past it has been the custom to make such tabs by hand as the tape is withdrawn from a roll for use. The nature of the tape is such that it has not as yet been found possible to the tapes as may be done with ordinary adhesive tape, accordingly this hand operation is employed at the place where the tape is used.

It has been suggested that a device, having a pair of relatively tape will adhere, be employed to facilitate the making of such tabs. The suggested device comprised a pair of movable platforms so biased that they were normally spaced from each other. The contemplated operation was to manually withdraw the tape from a roll and place it in position spanning spaced platforms, one of the platforms was then manually moved toward the other to form a loop or fold and thus provide the tab. The suggested device is far from satisfactory as it has been found that it repeatedly fails to function to form the tab and is, therefore, very unreliable and inefficient.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for folding pressure sensitive tape upon itself to form a tab, which will be reliable and which will be so arranged as to insure the formation of a tab at each operation of the device. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for folding pressure tape upon itself to form a tab in which the tab will be automatically formed consequent upon the severing of a strip of tape from a, supply roll.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred forms of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pressure sensitive adhesive tape dispenser incorporating the tab makin device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal construction thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views similar prefabricate tabs on movable platforms to which the to Fig. 2 but illustrating different operating positions of the device; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the device; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of the invention; Figs. 7 and 8 are Views similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating other forms of the invention; Fig. 9 is a vertical section indicated by the line 9-9 on Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a package illustrating one use of the pull tab on a sealing strip of the pressure sensitive tape.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved tab formingdevice is shown as being applied to a tape dispenser of a type in more or less general use at the present time. This dispenser comprises a relatively heavy base 10, having a pair of spaced side walls ll joined by a front wall [2 and a rear wall I 5, and providin an open topped recess or cavity I5 arranged to receive a drum 16 on which a roll I? of tape 18 is mounted. The drum I6 is carried by a spindle l9 which is removably positioned in inclined slots 20 formed in the inner faces of the side Walls H, thus facilitating replacement of exhausted rolls Il. Mounted on the upper edge of the forward wall I2 is a severing device comprising a thin blade or knife having serrated edge 2i which is used in the usual manner to facilitate the severing of strips of tape l8 from the roll 11.

The tab forming device, with which the present invention is particular concerned, is posi tioned within the cavity or recess l5 formed in the base Ill, and intermediate the roll of tape 11 and the tape severing knife 2|. As illustrated, the device includes a stationary platform which,

; in Fig. 2,is illustrated as a roller or pin 22. This platform, or roller 22, is journaled in upwardly extending ears 23 formed on the side walls H, and is spaced "from the severing knife 28 a distance equal to twice the length of the tab desired. A second or movable platform 24 is provided. This platform is formed by a lip portion of a bent metal strip 25 which is pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on a pivot pin 26 carried by the side walls I of the base. The strip or movable platform carrier 25 is positioned intermediate the stationary platform 22 and the knife 2|, and is so bent and located relative to the stationary platform that gravity tend-s to cause the movable platform 24 to seat against the stationary platform 22. However, a weight 21 (Fig. 2) may be attached to the movable platform carrier 25 to further bias it toward the stationary platform. If desired a spring 28 (Fig. 8) may be interposed between the movable platform carrier 25 and the base NJ to bias the movable platform. The employment of a spring 28 or weight 2? to increase the bias on the movable platform is preferably such as to cause the movable platform to automatically return from its separated position to its position in contact with the stationary platform with a relatively rapid or snap action.

The movable platform 24 is of such height that, when it is adjacent the stationary platform 22, it rises slightly thereabove. This enables the user to draw a strip of tape [8 from the roll I! and lower the strip into contact with the movable platform 24 as will be hereinafter more fully explained. The construction of the carrier strip 25 for the movable platform support 24 is such that the platform 24 is somewhat resilient in an up and down direction so that the platform readily adjusts itself to the severing knife 2|.

The operation of the device is relatively simple. A previously formed loop 29 of the tape is (Figs. 1 and 3) is gripped and a strip of tape is withdrawn from the roll l1. Just before the desired amount of tape l8 has been withdrawn from the roll, the strip is lowered into contact with the movable platform 24 which, as heretofore mentioned, rises above thestationary platform 22. Further withdrawal of the tape then swings the movable platform 26 into contact with the severing knife 2! as shown in Fig. 3. The tape is severed in the usual manner, whereupon the biased movable platform 24 returns to its original position as shown in Fig. 2.

The tab is automatically formed by the return of the movable platform to its original position. The formation of a tab for each operation of the device is insured by a support 38 which prevents the tape from looping downward, thereby insuring the formation of a loop whose contacting surfaces are the adhesive coated surface of the tape. The normal characteristics of pressure sensitive tape is such that the contact of these surfaces, particularly with a snap action, insures the formation of the tab.

The support is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 as comprising a thin plate-like member carried by a ledge 3! formed on the movable platform carrier 25. The support presents a relatively thin edge to the tape. The edge extends lengthwise of the tape and for practical purposes bridges the gap between the two platforms 22 and 2 when they are in their separated position. In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the device in a position which exists just after the movable platform 24 has started to return from its separated position to its adjacent position relative to the stationary platform 22 under the influence of gravity and the supplemental biasing means. Here it will be noted that the tape is, which adheres to both platforms, has started to loop downward, but that the extent of this downward loop is stopped by contact with the support 39. Thus as the distance between the movable and stationary platform, to which the tape adheres, is decreased, the tape is forced to loop upward, and due to the inherent tackiness of the tape and the rapidity of movement of the platform 24, a tab 29 is formed for each operation of the device.

The upper surface of loop forming support 30 may be curved as at 32 so that only a relatively small portion of the surface will be contacted by the tape when a downwardly forming loop tends to form, and so as to facilitate the passage of the support 39 beneath the stationary platform or roller 22. The support 30 'may be secured to a stationary member. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a support 30A which is mounted on the front wall or severing knife 2|. In this instance the movable platform carrier 25 is provided with a slot indicated at 38 so that the support 30A will not interfere with the movement of the platform.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification wherein the movable platform support 25 is provided with a bent portion 36 which extends forward of the platform 24 and engages the knife 2| so that the movable platform is spaced from the knife during the severing operation.

The device illustrated in Fig. 7 is arranged to permit variation of the length of the tab as desired. As illustrated, the side walls I l of the base H] are provided with a series of openings 39 extending in an arc the center of which is the pivot of the movable platform 24. Thus by selecting the openings for mounting of the roller, or movable platform 22, the spacing of the platforms may be predetermined and thus the length of tab controlled.

I have found that the tab may be more readily formed if the tape is arched transversely by the stationary platform 22. Such arching of the tape assists in causing the loop to form above the platforms 22 and 24. This may be accomplished, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and9, by providing a pair of rollers 40 each of which inclines upwardly as it approaches the axis of the tape. These rollers may be mounted in brackets 4| carried by a web 42 which joins the side walls ll of the base. The rollers 40 which comprise the stationary platform of the device illustrated in Fig. 8 may be spaced to provide clearance for the tape support 30.

I find that rollers of a diameter of less than one quarter of an inch may be used to form the relatively stationary platform to facilitate the operation of the device and to prevent damage to the adhesive qualities of the tape as it is drawn across the stationary platform, and yet present sufficient surface to the tape to cause adherence of the tape to the platform to insure the formation of the tab or loop 29 for each operation of the device.

I claim:

1. A device for folding pressure sensitive adhesive tape upon itself to form tabs, comprising means for supporting a supply of such tape, a pair of platforms to which the tape will adhere, said platforms being movable relative to each other from spaced positions to adjacent positions, and means for supporting the tape against lodging between the platforms as the platforms approach each other.

2. A device for folding pressure sensitive adhesive tape upon itself to form tabs, comprising means for supporting a roll of such tape, a pair of platforms to which said tape will adhere, one of said platforms being movable from a spaced position to an adjacent position relative to the other platform, and means bridging the gap between the spaced platforms to support the tape against entering such gap as the movable platform approaches the other platform.

3. A device for folding pressure sensitive adhesive tape upon itself to form tabs, comprising means for supporting a supply of tape, a pair of platforms to which the tape will adhere, one of said platforms being movable to and from the other platforms, and means carried by said movable platform and extending substantially across the gap between the separated platforms to sup- 'port the tape against folding of it in a downward loop as the movable platform approaches the other platform.

4. A device for folding pressure sensitive tape upon itself to form tabs, comprising a base for supporting a supply of such tape, a pair of platforms to which such tape will adhere, at least one of said platforms being movable to and from the other platform, and a guide positioned to stand beneath the tape when it reaches from one platform to the other platform while relatively distant therefrom to cause the tape to form a loop with the adhesive coated surfaces of the tape approaching each other as the movable platform moves toward the other platform;

5. A device for folding pressure sensitive tape upon itself to provide tabs and comprising a means for supporting a roll of such tape in a manner to permit a strip of tape to be withdrawn therefrom, a stationary platform and a movable platform to which the tape will adhere, the movable platform being biased to a position adjacent the stationary platform and being movable away from such platform by the withdrawing of the tape from the roll, and a relatively elongated tape supporting member having a relatively narrow tape supporting surface carried by said movable platform and extending lengthwise of the strip of tape being withdrawn from the roll and substantially bridging the gap between the two platforms when the platforms are separated.

6. A tab forming device adapted to be attached to a pressure sensitive adhesive'tape dispenser and comprising a platform adapted to be mounted on a stationary part of said dispenser, a second platform adapted to be pivotally attached to a fixed portion of the dispenser for movement to and from the first named platform, and a tape supporting blade bridging the gap between the platforms when they are separated, said blade extending in a direction substantially transverse to the platforms and having a tape coacting surface lying beneath the path of movement of the movable platform and being upwardly convex relative to such path of movement.

'7. A device for folding pressure sensitive tape upon itself to form a tab comprising, means for supporting a roll of tape to permit a strip to be withdrawn therefrom, a stationary platform, a second platform movable from a position adjacent the stationary platform to a position separated therefrom, said stationary platform being located between the movable platform and the roll of tape, and means to bias said movable platform to automatically return to the first named position, said platforms being of a type to which the tape will adhere, whereby when a strip of tape is withdrawn it will adhere to said platforms and the withdrawing movement act to separate said platforms and whereinconsequent upon release of the tape the movable platform will automatically return to its first named position, thereby forming a loop in said tape.

'8. A device for folding pressure sensitive adhesive tape upon itself to form tabs comprising, means for supporting a supply of such tape, a pair of platforms to which said tape will adhere,

a an upward loop in the region between one of said platforms being movable from a position adjacent the other platform to a position relatively spaced therefrom, and means bridging the gap between the spaced platforms to prevent tape from dropping into such gap when the movable platform approaches the other platform, and means to automatically return said movable platform to its adjacent position relative to the other platform after it has been moved therefrom;

9. A device for folding pressure sensitive tape upon itself to form a tab comprising, means for supporting a roll of tape to permit a strip to be withdrawn therefrom, a stationary knife spaced from said roll and extending transverse of the path of movement of withdrawing strip of tape, a stationary platform extending across the device intermediate the roll and said knife, a second platform intermediate the stationary platform and the knife and movable from a position adjacent the stationary platform to a position adjacent said knife and biased to return to the first named position, said platforms being of a type to which the tape will adhere, whereby when a strip of tape is withdrawn it will adhere to said platforms and the withdrawing movement will act to separate said platforms.

10. A device for forming tabs on pressure sensitive tape by folding the tape upon itself comprising, means to support a roll of tape, a knife spaced from the roll to enable the severing of a strip of tape from the roll, a stationary platform positioned intermediate the roll and knife and spaced from each and to which the tape will adhere, a second platform intermediate the stationary platform and the knife and mounted for movement from a position adjacent the first named platform to a position adjacent said knife, said platform being resiliently mounted for movement in an up-and-down-direction, whereby the pressure of the tape will cause the movable platform to adjust itself to the knife.

11. A device for folding pressure sensitive adhesive tape upon itself to form tabs comprising, means for supporting a supply of such tape, a pair of platforms to which the tape will adhere, said platforms being movable relative to each other from spaced positions to adjacent positions, means for preventing the tape from lodging between the platforms as the platforms approach each other, and means to curve the tape into the two platforms.

GORDON I. MCNEIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,209,393 Eitzen July 30, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 558,503 Great Britain Jan. 'I, 1944 

